Prime mover



T J. REES April 6, 1937.

PRIME MOVER Filed Aug. 27, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l awe/WM failzas clfl es April 6, 1937. T. J. REES 2,076,480

PRIME MOVER Filed Aug. 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tamas J flees A ril 6, 1937.

T. REES PRIME MOVER Filed Aug. 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 PATENT OFFICE PRIME MOVER Thomas J. Rees, Reno, Nev.

Application August 27,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a prime mover of the steam engine type, in which cold or warm water vapor is instantaneously transformed into a power medium 1. e., superheated steam to a high pressure in a single chamber.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a power generating means capable for use in conjunction with an engine to provide a compact power plant for airplanes and automotive vehicles for which purpose compactness in form is necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide an engine of less weight and occupying less space than that occupied by internal combustion engines of similar horsepower.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for the economical use of liquid petroleum gas, such as butane and kindred gases, as fuel in generating heat to produce super-heated steam for use in conjunction with an engine of the rotor or reciprocating type.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a power plant which is compact, efficient in operation, safe to operate, eliminating all danger from explosion such as may happen in a steam boiler, as well as diminishing the fire hazard of both the heavier and lighter than air vessels.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means to generate super-heated steam to a predetermined high pressure without reheating, utilizing the initial expansion or" the super-heated vapor to perform work whereby the losses relative to reheating will be entirely eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a means to generate super-heated steam without the usual cumbersome boiler.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a power plant for the purpose referred to wherein a tubular furnace and an expansion chamber are so designed and constructed that the relationship existing between heat units, volume and pressure correspond and are easily controlled.

To the above ends essentially, and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken 1934, Serial No. 741,606

away, showing the power generating apparatus, in accordance with the invention, employed in connection with a steam engine of the reciprocatyp Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-4,

Figures 2 and 6, illustrating the adaptation of the apparatus with a steam engine of the reciprocating type,

Figure 4 is a sectional detail illustrating a form of vaporizing element employed,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 55, Figures 2 and 6, but further illustrating the adaptation of the apparatus with a steam engine of the rotor type,

Figure 6 is a sectional plan of the expansion chamber, the furnace or combustion chamber and the partition within the expansion chamber, and

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7, Figure 5.

With reference to Figures 1 to '7, the apparatus includes a metallic casting I providing a U-shaped flash or expansion chamber 2 heated by a U- shaped combustion chamber 3 which is arranged substantially concentrically to and suspended within the chamber 2. The chamber 3 is provided by a tubular U-shaped metallic casting 4 which extends above the casting I. The chambers are open at their upper ends. The casting I is laterally flanged at its upper end, as at 5. Arranged upon the top of and secured to the flange 5 is a closure cap 6 for the upper endof chamber 2. The cap 6 is formed of a pair of superimposed sections I, B. Preferably, the section 8 will be of the same material as that of the casting I. The sections I, 8 of the cap 6 are formed with a pair of registering openings 9, I0, 2. pair of registering openings I I, I2 and a pair of registering openings I3, I4. The pairs of openings are intersected by the longitudinal medians of said sections. The openings II, I2 are intersected by the transverse medians of said sections and are arranged between and spaced from the other pairs of openings. The openings 9, II and I3 are arranged above the openings I0, I2 and I4 respectively and have their walls threaded;

The casting 4'has its sides I5, I6, at their upper ends, formed with internal and external threads. The side I5 extends into the openings 9, III and threadedly engages with the wall of opening 9. The side It extends into the openings I3, I4 and threadedly engages with the Wall of opening I3. The sides I5, I6, adjacent their upper ends, have peripheral flangesll whichabut the sectiont ofcap 6. The inner face of side I6, below its threads, has an internal annular shoulder I8. The cap 6 is anchored to the flange 5 of casting I by the holdfast means 28.

The bottom of chamber 2 is formed with an opening 2| having a threaded wall. Threadedly engaging with the latter is the reduced upper end 22 of a vertically disposed tubular energy medium conducting member or nipple 23 provided intermediate its ends with a peripheral apertured flange 24.- Themember 23 abuts the bottom of casting I and opens at its upper end into chamber 2.

Secured within the opening I2 is a vaporizing element 25 having a depending cone-shaped part 26 at its lower end. The element 25 is formed. with oppositely inclined discharge channels 21 merging into each other at their upper ends and opening at their lower ends at the sides of and in proximity to the bottom of said part 26. The bottom of the latter is of segmental contour in cross section.

Extending into and threadedly engaging with the wall of opening II is a water nozzle 28 which seats upon element 25. The nozzle 28 has a restricted discharge channel 29 for registering with the merged upper ends of the channels 21.

Extending at its lower end into the upper end of the side I5 of casting 4, as well as being threadedly connected to the said side, is a vertically disposed burner 36. Extending at its lower endinto the upper end of the side I6 of casting 4, as well as being threadedly connected to the said side I6, is an upstanding vent pipe 3| provided with a damper 32.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a water supply pipe 33 having a controlling valve 34. The pipe 33 is connected to nozzle 28 by an elbow coupling 35. The pipe 33 communicates with and extends from a water pressure tank 36.

Opening into the latter is a water feed line 31 which leads from a reservoir 38. The line 31 has a by-pass 39 and a check valve 48. A Water pump is designated 4! and is associated with the reservoir 38. A fuel tank 42 is arranged above cap 6 and it has extending therefrom a fuel conducting line 43 which opens into the burner 38. The line 43 is provided with a throttle 44.

The casting l and cap 6, as well as a part of member 23, are enclosed by a heat insulating body 45 which also surrounds a portion of nozzle 28, burner 38 and vent pipe 3|. The body 45 is completely enclosed by a metallic covering 46.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, there is shown a power transmitting element or steam engine 41 of the reciprocatory type having its chest or cylinder indicated at 48. The element 41 is connected to and operates the driving means 49 for the pump 4|. The chest 48 has an opening 56 in its top which registers with the passage 5i provided by the member 23. Surrounding that part of member 23, below the flange of the latter, is an annulus 52 which not only abuts such flange but also the top of chest 48. The flange of member 23, annulus 52 and chest 48 are clamped together by the holdfast means 53.

Communicating with the chest 48 is a condenser 54 and leading therefrom to the reservoir 38 is a conducting-off pipe 55.

With reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6, there is shown a vertical partition 56 having its side faces of concavo-convex contour throughout and its ends formed with oppositely disposed semi-circular cutouts 51, 58. The lengthwise edges of the partition 56 are shouldered in proximity to its lower end, as at 59. The casting I, centrally of its inner side faces, is formed with a pair of vertical parallel grooves 60 opening at the top thereof and of less length than the length of the partition 56. The grooves 66 are closed at their lower ends to form bottom walls 6| which constitute supports. The partition 56 extends into the grooves 60. The shoulders 59 seat on the walls 6|. The partition 56 divides chamber 2 into a pair of vertically disposed tubular compartments communicating at their upper ends by a passage provided by the cutout 51. The lower end of the partition 56 is positioned above the bend 62 of casting 4. The edge of the cutout 58 forms a continuation of the bottom portion of the inner face of casting l. The vaporizing element 25 is arranged over and spaced from the edge of the cutout 51. The channels 2'! of the element 25 are directed beyond the side faces of the partition 56 and discharge into the compartments of chamber 2.

With reference to Figure 5 there is shown a rotor or turbine 62 of high speed provided with vanes 63 and which is employed in lieu of the reciprocatory engine 41. Secured to and opening into the chamber 2 is a tubular member or nipple 64 providing a passage 65 for conducting the power medium from chamber 2 into the rotor 62. The latter and member 64 are secured together by the holdfast means 66. The member 64 extends into the rotor 62 and has the lower end of its passage 65 closed. The member 64 is provided with oppositely disposed ejectors 61 for the power medium. The ejectors open at one end into the passage 65 and at their other ends into the rotor 62. The rotor 62 operates a power transmitting means 68 in the form of a shaft. Otherwise than that as stated, the construction shown by Figure 5 will be the same as that shown in Figure l.

The flash or expansion chamber is constructed of a cubical dimension corresponding to the volume of the superheated medium plus the volume of the furnace.

Distilled water, under pump pressure, is introduced through the vaporizer into the flash or expansion chamber. The combustion chamber wall will be raised to a high temperature by the firing of liquid petro eum gas ranging as high as 1800 F. The injected water mist will absorb the heat units and immediately be inverted into superheated vapor of known quality and pressure and discharged into the reciprocatory engine or rotor for driving the latter.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a U-shaped flash chamber, a U-shaped combustion chamber suspended Within and in concentric relation to said flash chamber and having its walls formed of heat conducting material, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to the combustion chamber, said flash chamber being closed to said combustion chamber, means for supplying water vapor, under pump pressure, to the flash chamber to provide, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, and means opening into the bottom of said flash chamber for conducting said medium to a point of utilization.

2. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a vertical flash chamber, a vertically disposed U-shaped combustion chamber suspended in and from the upper end of said flash chamber in spaced relation to the bottom and sides of the latter and having its walls formed of heat conducting material, said flash chamber being closed to said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber open at each of its ends, a burner extending into one of the ends of the combustion chamber, a controllable venting means opening into the other end of the combustion chamber, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to said burner for heating the walls of the combustion chamber, means for supplying water vapor, under pump pressure, to the flash chamber to provide, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, and means opening into the bottom of the flash chamber for conducting the energy medium to a point of utilization.

3. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a vertical flash chamber, a vertically disposed U-shaped combustion chamber suspended in and from the upper end of said flash chamber in spaced relation to the bottom and sides of the latter and having its walls formed of heat conducting material, said flash chamber being closed to said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber open at each of its ends, a burner extending into one of the ends of the combustion chamber, a controllable venting means opening into the other end of the combustion chamber, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to said burner for heating the walls of the combustion chamber, means for supplying water vapor, under pump pressure, into the upper portion of the flash chamber to provide, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, means opening into the bottom of the flash chamber for conducting the energy medium to a point of utilization, and heat insulating means encompassing the flash chamber and encompassing a portion of the said supply, venting and conducting means and said burner.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a vertical flash chamber, a vertically disposed U-shaped combustion chamber suspended inand from the upper end of said flash chamber in spaced relation to the bottom and sides of -the latter and having its walls formed of heat conducting material, said flash chamber being closed to said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber extending above said flash chamber, said combustion chamber open at each of its ends, a burner extending into one of the ends of the combustion chamber, a controllable venting means opening into the other end of the combustion chamber, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to said burner for heating the walls of the combustion chamber, said flash chamber having a top wall into which the walls of the combustion chamber extend and are connected therewith whereby the combustion chamber is suspended from said top wall, a vertical partition disposed within and on the transverse median of the flash chamber to provide the latter with a pair of vertical compartments permanently communicating at their lower ends, said partition being cut away at its top for establishing communication between the ends of the compartments, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to said burner for heating the walls of the combustion chamber, a water vaporizing element arranged in the top wall of and discharging into said flash chamber, means for delivering water, under pump pressure, to said element to provide for the discharge into the flash chamber of water vapor to form, in connection with the heat radiated from the walls of the combustion chamber, a superheated energy medium, and means opening into the bottom of the flash chamber for conducting the energy medium to a. point of utilization.

' 5. In an apparatus for the purpose referred to, an outer upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a flash chamber, an inner upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a combustion chamber arranged within and in concentric spaced relation throughout with respect to the flash chamber, said combustion chamber extending above the flash chamber and having its walls of heat conducting material, a cap mounted upon and secured to the outer casting and formed of a pair of superimposed sections, said inner casting opening through said cap and secured to the upper section of the cap, a vaporizing element mounted in the lower section of the cap and discharging into the flash chamber, a burner secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into the combustion chamber, a controllable vent pipe secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into said combustion chamber, means secured to the upper section of the cap. for supplying water, under pump pressure, to said element to provide for the discharge of water vapor into the flash chamber to form, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, and means for conducting the energy medium from the flash chamber to a point of utilization.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose referred to, an outer upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a flash chamber, an inner upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a combustion chamber arranged within and in concentric spaced relation throughout with respect to the flash chamber, said combustion chamber extending above the flash chamber and having its walls of heat conducting material, a cap mounted upon and secured to the outer casting and formed of a pair of superimposed sections, said inner casting opening through said cap and secured to the upper section of the cap, a vaporizing element mounted in the lower section of the cap and discharging into the flash chamber, a burner secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into the combustion chamber, a controllable vent pipe secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into said combustion chamber, means secured to the upper section of the cap for supplying water, under pump pressure, to said element to provide for the discharge of water vapor into the flash chamber to form, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, means for conducting the energy medium from the flash chamber to a point of utilization, a partition arranged within the outer casting for dividing said flash chamber into a pair of parallel compartments, and said element having channels for directing the water vapor into the said compartments.

'7. In an apparatus .for the purpose referred to, an outer upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a flash chamber, an inner upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a combustion chamber arranged within and in concentric spaced relation throughout with respect to the flash chamber, said combustion chamber extending above the flash chamber and having its walls of heat conducting material, a cap mounted upon and secured to the outer casting and formed of a pair of superimposed sections, said inner casting opening through said cap and secured to the upper section of the cap, a. vaporizing element mounted in the lower section of the cap and discharging into the flash chamber, a burner secured to the upper end ofvthe inner casting and opening into the combustion chamber, a controllable vent pipe secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into said combustion chamber, means secured to the upper section of. the cap for supplying water, under pump pressure, to said element to provide for the discharge of water vapor into the flash chamber to form, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, means for conducting the energy medium from the flash chamber to a point of utilization, and heat insulation means encompassing the outer casting, said cap, the burner, pipe and the said water supply and conducting-off means.

8. In an apparatus for the purpose referred to, an outer upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a flash chamber, an inner upstanding tubular U-shaped casting providing a combustion chamber arranged within and in concentric spaced relation throughout with respect to the flash chamber, said combustion chamber extending above the flash chamber and having its walls of heat conducting material, a cap mounted upon and secured to the outer casting and formed of a pair of superimposed sections, said inner casting opening through said cap and secured to the upper section of the cap, a vaporizing element mounted in the lower section of the cap and discharging into the flash chamber, a burner secured to the: upper end of the inner casting and opening into the combustion chamber, a controllable vent pipe secured to the upper end of the inner casting and opening into said combustion chamber, means secured to the upper section of the cap for supplying water, under pump pressure, to said element to provide for the discharge of water vapor into the flash chamber to form, in connection with the heat radiated from said walls, a superheated energy medium, means for conducting the energy medium irom the flash chamber to a point of utilization, a partition arranged within the outer casting for dividing said flash chamber into-a pair of parallel compartments, said element having channels for directing the water vapor into the said compartments, and heat insulation means encompassing the outer casting, said cap, the burner, pipe and the said water supply and conducting-off means.

9. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a flash chamber, a U-shaped combustion chamber suspended within and in concentric relation throughout to said flash chamber and having its walls formed of heat conducting material, a partition within said flash chamber for dividing the latter into a pair of parallel vertical compartments communicating at their upper and lower ends, the said compartments being closed to said combustion chamber, means for delivering a. combustible heat generating means to the combustion chamber into one of its ends, a water vaporizing. element centrally of the upper end of the flash chamber discharging into the latter, means for delivering water under pressure to said element to be vaporized, said element being formed with means for simultaneously directing the water vapor into said compartments to form, in connection with the heat radiated from the walls of the combustion chamber, a superheated energy medium, and means opening into the bottom of the flash chamber for conducting the energy medium to a point of utilization.

10. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a vertically disposed flash chamber, a vertically disposed U-shaped combustion chamber suspended within and from the top of the flash chamber and disposed in concentric spaced relation to said flash chamber, said combustion chamber having its walls formed of heat conducting material and its ends open, said flash chamber being closed to said combustion chamber, a partition within the flash chamber for dividing it into a pair of parallel vertical compartments communicating at their upper and lower ends, a burner extending into the upper end of the combustion chamber, means for delivering a combustible heat generating means to said burner for heating the walls of the combustion chamber, a water vaporizing element mounted in and centrally of the top of said flash chamber and discharging into the latter, means for delivering water under pump pressure to said element to be vaporized, said element being formed with means for simultaneously directing the water vapor into said compartments to form, in connection with the heat radiated from the walls of the combustion chamber, a superheated energy medium, means opening into the bottom of the flash chamber for conducting the energy medium to a point of utilization, and a controlling venting means opening into the other end of the combustion chamber.

THOMAS J. REES. 

